Thermometer for radiators



G. C. BROWN.

THERMOMETER FOR RADIATORS. APPLICATmN r|LED1uN14.1918.

TMB COLUMBIA MNUCRAPM ELL. WABIIRN'IV'I'OII,` D. C.

BTOWTL S14/manto:

GLENN C. BROWN, OF TAYLOR RIDGE, ILLINOIS.

THERMOMETER FOB RADIATORS.

Application led June 14, 1918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GLENN C. BnowN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taylor Ridge, in the county of Rock Island, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermometers for Radiators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in thermometers and has particular reference to a thermometer for automobile radiators.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device mounted in a radiator cap and carrying a thermometer projecting into the radiator so that the temperature o the liquid therein will be indicated on the thermometer, said device being so mounted as to permit of the ca being readily removed and replaced w en the radiator is filled.

Another object is the provision of an improved illuminating means for the thermometer which will permit of readings thereof being taken in the dark.

A- further object is the lprovision of a device of this character w ich is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, readily applicable to different types of radiator caps and effective in carrying out the purpose for which it is designed.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device showing the same a plied to a radiator cap.

Fig. 2 is a rear e evation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the socket connection at the base of the device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the draw-ing, the numeral 10 indicates the cap of a radiator the form of which is optional as it will be understood that the device which comprises the essential feature of the invention may be applied to any form of radiator cap now commonly employed. In carrying out the invention the cap is provided centrali thereof with an interiorly screw threa ed opening 11 to receive the screw threaded end 12 of a tubular mem- Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July l5, 1919.

Serial No. 240,091.

ber 13 forming a part of the device and which projects downwardly into the radiator for a purpose which will appear in the course of the description. The tubular member 13 is secured in the opening l1 in the cap by means of the Washer 1-1 mounted upon the member yand engaging the under side of said cap and being secured in such position by means of a nut 15 threaded upon the end 12.

The device further comprises a circular hase 1G which rests upon the top of the radiator cap and which is provided with a central screw threaded opening 1T in which the upper end 12 of the tubular mcniiber is mounted. Extending upwardly from the base 16 is the body 18 of the device which preferably comprises a plate 19 of substantially oval formation and surrounded by a hollow tubular or rounded ed e 2() communicating with a passage 21 formed in the top of the lbase 1G and forming therewith a conduit for a purpose which will later appear. The plate 19 is preferably provided with an elongated opening or slot 22, Fig. 5, which is preferably surrounded by a housing formed of sections 23 and 24, the former belng brazed or otherwise permanently secured to the front of the plate 19 while the section 24 is secured to the back of the plate 19 by means of screw fasteners 25 engaging in lugs 26 formed integrally with the section 24 and extending laterally therefrom. Each of the sections 23 and 24 is of an oblong rectangular formation and the front of the section 23 is formed by a glass panel 27 which is transparent While the back of the section 24 is formed by a translucent glass panel 28. construction just described it will be apparent that the sections 23 and 24 of the housing will provide an adequate inclosure for `the upper end of a thermometer 29 which is extended through the tubular member 13, base 16 and into the housincr in a plane with the opening slot 22 therein and the intermediate portion of said thermometer is mounted in suitable packing 30 positioned within the base 16 so as to maintain the thermometer in a rigid position and prevent rattling thereof within the device. Through the medium of this construction it will be apparent that readings of the thermometer may be readily taken by looking through the glass front panel 27 and that in this manner the ltemperature of the liquid By the provision of the within thi radiator may be easily ascertained. i

It is further proposed in connection with the invention to provide an illuminating means for the device whereby readings of the thermometer may be made in the dark or when the light is not sulicien-t to distinguish the markings on the thermometer and, to this end, there is preferably extended from the upper end ol the hollow edge 2O of the plate 19 a curved and downwardly directed bracket 31 having a lamp socket 32 at its lower end and rearwardly of the translucent glass panel 28 and contiguous thereto. The socket 32 has mounted therein n. small incandescent lamp 33 'grounded in the socket in the usual manner and having electrical contact with a wire conductor 34 extending through the bracket 31 and also through the conduit formed by the side and from thence through the top of the base lo where the saine terminates 1n a forward extension or nipple formed upon the top ot said base, said conductor 34 being insu lated from said nipple. A socket 36 is detachably mounted upon the nipple and is grounded with the body of the device and, at the same time, held in engagement'with the nipple by means of a spring or Wire clip 37 secured to the socket and having a free end extending through a small opening 3S formed inthe bottom of the base 16. Wires 39 are mounted in the socket 36 and one ot' said wires is electrically connected to the clip 37 While the other wire is similarly engaged with the terminal or contact 40 in the socket 36 which contact is adL lted to engage with the conductor 34 when the socket 36 is in position, so that` a circuit will be closed through the conductor and body of the device to the incandescent lamp 33 mounted Within the socket 32. The wires 39 may be connected to a suitable battery and the current through said wires controlled by a switch (not shown) so that the lamip 33 may be lighted and extinguished whenever desii-ed. B v reason of positioning the lamp 33 in back of the device and adjacent the translucent panel 28, it will be apparent that the rays of light from the lamp will be slightly diffused by said panel thus avoiding the glare which would otherwise be thrown upon the thermometer if said panel were transparent, and by providing the front panel 27 of transparent glass it will be obvious that the markings of the thermometer may be readily seen therethrough both in the day time and when the lamp 33 is illu niinated.

llVhat is claimed iszl. The combination with the cap of an automobile radiator, of a frame supported on the top of the cap, a thermometer having marks thereon disposed Within said frame, a lamp depending at the rear of said frame, a transparent 'glass panel in 'the forward portion 'of the trame, and in front of the said thermometer, and a trai'islu'cent glass panel in the rearward portion of said frame and i'n rear of said thermometer whereby the light of said lamp will be diffused through the'translncent panel to readily perinit a View of the thermometer.

The combination with a support, of a frame on the support having an opening` therethrough and a thermometer to be viewed disposed therein, a tubular extension on one side of the lower portion of the said frame, an insulated member in saidtubular member, a metallic Contact member projecting from the outer end of the ineulated member. an electrical conductor connected to said contact and extending inwardly and upwardly through said support, an electric lamip mounted behind the said frame, a translucent glass pane] mounted in the rear of the opening of the frame, a transparent glass panel in the front of said opening, the lamp being grounded at one side on the said mpport, a second tubular member detachably engaged on the first tubular member, a contact mounted therein and insulated therefrom, an electrical conduit connected to the last-named contact, an electrical conduit connected to the second tubular member, and a spring linger metallically connected with the second tubular member and to the lastnamed conduit, said finger engaging in the first-named opening to provide a metallic contact.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in thepresence oftwo Witnesses.

GLENN C. BROWN.

Witnesses:

HUMPHREY E. BRUBAKER, BENJAMIN W. BRUBAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for `ve cents each, by addressing the Commissione` of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

